NC H51

Allows governing boards in 13 specified eastern North Carolina counties and their municipalities to adopt ordinances permitting electronic publication of required public notices on county-maintained websites instead of or in addition to newspaper publication.

Requires counties adopting electronic notice ordinances to maintain websites with sufficient staff, keep notices searchable for at least one year, file physical copies in a separate notice book, and mail or email copies to persons who request notice.

Mandates counties publish instructions for accessing electronic notices at least monthly for 12 months in a newspaper and prohibits ordinances from superseding requirements for mailed notices to specific persons or property posting requirements.

Allows counties to set reasonable fees to cover electronic notice costs and permits boards of elections, planning boards, social services boards, and health boards to use the county website for their notices.

Creates a statewide provision allowing counties to publish legal notices on county-maintained websites with sworn affidavits accepted as prima facie evidence of publication, and permits newspapers to notify the public that notices may appear online, in print, or both.